What’s Greenham Common got to do with self-care?
I’ve been concerned over the years about
our use of cleaning products, for ourselves and our homes that contain any
chemicals, sulphites, parabens etc.
I know it costs more to buy them
usually. The other day talking with friend, she said
’I just use the cheapest’
Yep, we all do that, the cost is always a
factor.
Recently, I came across a post on Facebook,
discussing what everyone uses for organic personal, cleaning products etc., which was very interesting to read, especially as it was a group of over 50’s.
discussing what everyone uses for organic personal, cleaning products etc., which was very interesting to read, especially as it was a group of over 50’s.
Everyone reeled off their organic product
favourite companies, while helpful, I still don’t usually pay more than £4 for a bottle of shampoo! To me £15 is a
lot for shampoo, as I read others choices!
My Mum, I’m proud to say at 56 years old, lived
on till 88, but she, as my role model, stood up for what she believed in.
I don’t know, if you’ve ever heard of the
womens peace camp in Greenham Common, 1982 protesting against the siting of US
cruise missiles in the UK?
She went to Greenham common for the day, by
coach to offer support, forming ‘A chain
of peace’, peace always being ‘her word’
They were there, to stage a protest in holding hands around a designated
intended site, for American cruise missiles in Berkshire.
A point that’s always staring back at us
all is, as mentioned in the article below people think:
‘Well
they must have been hippies’?
My Mum was never a ‘hippy’ she had many
friends of all different ‘personal choices’.
What she did have was an open heart, always there for others, their
troubles, maybe I inherited some of that lol?
As they say in the Guardian article:
‘People
think everyone at Greenham Common was a hippy, but many were ordinary women who
did the cooking, and whose husbands played golf, and didn’t mind them coming
because there were no men.’
The
Guardian
What it did do was teach my generation
about collective action, how yes, we must stand up for what we believe in – and
it is NOT a subversive action to do so.
Why is it wrong, to want to protect your
children? Your safety? The whole worlds safety?
No, it’s common sense, its only when
there’s more of a balance, of male and female, that we actually achieve any
form of balance, because both sexes have their own unique strengths, sometimes
it’s about turning your challenges into your strengths.
Secondly, it says a lot about the perceived
husbands in 1982? That they didn’t mind
their wives going to be possibly arrested, because there were no men going on
‘the trip’?
‘The trip’ makes it sound like a trip to
Bangor? With an ice-cream?
What did they think their wives were going
for? Probably more likely, I imagine, in
the case of my mum was, that her
partner at the time, knew if she said she was going, there was nothing they
could have said to stop them! I admire
her for that too!
What women? being ‘allowed’ to do what they
felt passionate about? as long as it didn’t involve men?
Or, it may involve men police officers?
That would be okay? It says in the
article above, they followed them into the bushes when they needed to relieve
themselves? The women, I mean not the
men.
Anyhow, I digress, what has Greenham common
got to do with self-care?
Well after my friend’s comment, I did what
most younger people do nowadays, I googled paraben and sulfite free
conditioner, because I’ve yet to find an organic conditioner that actually
works on my hair!
Lo and behold, a whole list of products
came up, from big brands! Wow!
It always pays to come up with the right
questions!
This means that all YOU women, who’ve objected to buying big brands because of the contents, have actually
created this demand in the market place, companies are, actually listening to
YOU?
Not only listened to, but created out there
for us women! Conditioners that don’t
harm, that are safe for us to use?
Though, I must admit, while writing this
down, I feel sad, we have to state this want of safety? before common sense is
used, to create anything that does not harm ANYONE.
And NO, I’m not a hippy. I’m probably just like you? I want to live in
a safe world, where anything harmful will be labeled with a warning? So that I can make an informed choice? Personally, I don’t want to damage the earth
either, but that still doesn’t make me a hippy.
I don’t think that’s too much to ask?
The good news is: It means that you’re being observed
nowadays.
Companies do take notice, without you
having to risk life or limb or imprisonment to do it! That means my Mum did have an actual impact,
even as a small link, collectively, in that ‘chain of peace’ in 1982.
It’s as simple as ‘what you purchase’ and
what ‘you don’t purchase’ and if you take the time to google the cheaper priced
stores of safe cosmetics, then costs will begin change to reflect YOUR ‘want’s’
Do not ‘put up’ with anything other than, your
beliefs, your choices, whilst being mindful of others free choice too. We need to make our own boundaries, to
collectively, make a bigger positive difference to our world.
